Second homes and professional holiday lets on the market don’t make affordable homes says new report2/12/2024 High street estate agents from coastal and rural parts of Wales have told the Cabinet Secretary for Housing that the policy to free up properties as affordable homes is not working. In a meeting with Jayne Bryant MS, agents representing West, Mid and North Wales explained that, while more properties were coming onto the market, hardly any were suitable as affordable homes for local people. They confirmed that the buying and selling of the most expensive properties took place in its own ‘bubble’ with buyers coming from wealthier areas not put off by potentially high council tax premiums. For the middle to higher price properties, these were being taken up by retirees coming into Wales, or people returning to an area, for use as primary residences as still being more affordable than similar properties in other parts of the UK. Lower price properties tended to be in places too far away from facilities, too expensive to heat and maintain or had no gardens or parking, all of which making them unattractive to people looking for primary residences even if they were affordable. Property agents from parts of Wales featuring honey pot destinations were invited to take part in a number of evidence-gathering sessions organised by Propertymark, the independent body for the property sector and the Wales Tourism Alliance, the body representing tourism providers of all kinds across Wales. Those agents who participated were active in the local domestic sale and rental market, not the holiday let sector. Suzy Davies, outgoing Chair of the WTA said: “We have known for the last two years that professional holiday let businesses, often locally owned, have been caught up in the Welsh Government policies aimed at reducing the number of second homes in some specific parts of Wales. This is despite the fact that the report which prompted these policies, commissioned by Welsh Government, acknowledged the importance of the tourism industry and distinguished between second homes and professional lets. “Members told us that they were selling or thinking of selling their businesses because of the new, expensive taxes and other requirements being placed on them by Welsh Government, which were driving them to discount prices at the same time as rising costs and a drop in demand were affecting viability. Solid, first-hand information from the Professional Association of Self-Caterers about how genuine business owners were being affected has already been shared with Welsh Government. “Members also told us that their properties would add nothing to the stock of attractive affordable homes, even in areas where prices were falling. We felt we needed to test this assertion before approaching the Cabinet Secretary for Housing by seeking evidence from the open housing market, entirely independently from holiday property representatives. We were delighted that Propertymark agreed to co-produce this preliminary report.” Tim Thomas of Propertymark said: “Propertymark was delighted to work in partnership as an independent partner with the Welsh Tourism Alliance. We have been very active with both the Welsh Government and local authority consultations on measures to regulate holiday lets. “We are supportive of the aims of the Welsh Government in ensuring that people can afford to buy or rent a home locally, to support local economies and the Welsh language. However, any measures must be proportionate and take consideration of any unintended consequences. “The recommendations in the report have come from the insights of property agents during our research and we look forward to continuing to engage with the Welsh Government to assess the impact of their policies.” You can read the report below.
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A visitor levy for Wales | GOV.WALESA visitor levy for Wales | GOV.WALESStatement from Rowland Rees-Evans, Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance.
The tourism and hospitality industry contributes billions of pounds annually to the Welsh economy and employs over 11% of the working population and the Wales Tourism Alliance does not believe that a Visitor Levy is the right solution for Wales. However, since it became clear that a Visitor Levy is a preferred policy for the Welsh Government. we have put a huge amount of work in to ensure that any proposals would both recognise the importance of tourism to Wales and be fit for purpose. We are disappointed that a number of the key points on which we felt we had reached an understanding with the Welsh Government have not been adequately reflected in the proposed policy. In particular we feel that the Welsh Government has missed a key opportunity to establish a registration scheme for self-catering accommodation that would have incorporated key health and safety criteria and assured visitors that their accommodation meets basic assurance standards. What has been proposed will instead increase the costs for tourism and hospitality businesses, which will be passed on to our visitors, without any perceived “added value”. We are also disappointed that there is no clear commitment that the funding raised by the levy will be dedicated to improving the visitor experience in Wales. This was the Welsh Government’s opportunity to deliver a gold standard in tourism and accommodation – setting Wales apart from the rest of the UK. Instead it has merely made Wales more expensive without any perceived added-value for our visitors. Link to the Welsh Government's Visitor Levy policy and strategy page: A visitor levy for Wales | GOV.WALES  ROWLAND REES-EVANS has been appointed as the new Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance.
Well known in tourism and farming circles, the former High Sheriff of Dyfed and county councillor takes over from Suzy Davies this month. The Wales Tourism Alliance represents over 6000 businesses through its member organisations, across sectors and across Wales. It both challenges and works with government for the benefit of the industry, and collaborates with other organisations on research and campaigns. Rowland said: "This appointment is an honour and a challenge that I am very much looking forward to. The WTA plays a major role within the tourism industry representing the main tourism representative bodies across Wales. I fully understand the precarious position the industry finds itself in at present and I along with the WTA board and members will strive to continue the excellent work that Suzy Davies, my predecessor, has done over the past three years. “We will continue to work closely with governments at all levels to ensure we achieve those positive outcomes that the tourism industry here in Wales needs and deserves." Suzy said: “I’m delighted to be able to hand over to such a well-respected advocate for tourism in Wales. As the Chair of Mid Wales Tourism and through running his own well-established but innovative tourism & leisure business, Rowland has first hand experience of the challenges facing the industry. He also has the experience to navigate and negotiate with leading decision makers, as well as working in common cause with others to make the most of the opportunities for the industry and those who work in it ”That work needs to continue in earnest after such an intense period of external pressures and government policy changes whose effects are now demonstrable”.  This survey is for Estate Agents and Private Rental Agents only.
Closing Date 3 November 2024. Since 2019, buyers, sellers and renters have been facing a rise in the cost of living and doing business, the effects of the war in Ukraine and covid, and, latterly, new Welsh Government policy. The Wales Tourism Alliance in association with PropertyMark is trying to determine how buying, selling and renting decisions have changed since 2019. In particular, we seek evidence to see whether the Welsh Government’s “three pronged approach” to limit the number of second homes is meeting its aims of increasing the number of affordable homes (bought or rented) in some parts of Wales. The findings of this survey will be included in a report presented to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Housing. This survey seeks a level of granularity which you may not be able to provide. However, we would still like to hear from you with as much detail as possible - rough percentages, general trends - so please add anything additional that you would like to say in the final section. Please note the following definitions (NB: These definitions do not refer to the 182-day taxation rules but the actual use of properties):
The Wales Tourism Alliance is a well-established umbrella membership organisation representing all tourism sectors across Wales.
Our members are themselves sector-membership organisations operating in Wales, destination marketing/management organisations and larger employers with a direct or indirect interest in tourism in Wales. This means that we advocate with all levels of government, especially Welsh Government, on behalf of over 6000 small and micro businesses on policy which affects them. We also work collaboratively with partners on common causes, helping promote responsible tourism in Wales as well as offering evidence-based challenge and solutions to problematic policy. The Chair works with the Executive Board in setting strategic direction and ensuring good governance as well as offering support to our Policy Advocate. You will also represent the organisation at public events such as the Wales Tourism Week Reception at the Senedd, conferences etc. as well as giving media interviews. To apply, please send a CV and short covering email explaining what you can bring to the role and why it interests you, to [email protected]. The outgoing Chair is happy to discuss the role with you at any point before the closing date for applications. Closing Date: 30th October, 5pm. Informal interviews, conducted virtually, will take place shortly thereafter and we hope to announce the appointment by mid-November. Please note this is an expenses-only role. Industry Survey: A unique opportunity to add your voice to the first four tourism alliances survey11/10/2024  For the first time, the four tourism alliances covering the whole of the UK have collaborated on a joint survey, offering a rare opportunity to capture a comprehensive UK-wide picture of the economic and policy environment that tourism and hospitality businesses are operating in.
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